~든지 ~든지

§ What ~든지 ~든지 means and when to use it

The Korean grammar pattern ~든지 ~든지 (deunji deunji) is a super useful way to express choices or alternatives. Think of it like saying "whether... or..." or "either... or..." in English. It allows you to present two or more options without really caring which one is chosen. It implies that the outcome will be the same regardless of the choice, or that the choice doesn't significantly impact the situation. This makes it really flexible in everyday conversation.

You can use ~든지 ~든지 with verbs, adjectives, and even some nouns. It’s a versatile pattern that helps you talk about possibilities, preferences, or indifference in a clear way. For example, if someone asks you what you want to eat, you could use ~든지 ~든지 to say you're fine with either option they offer. Or, if you're talking about how to get somewhere, you can use it to say that either method works.

A key thing to remember is that ~든지 ~든지 shows a kind of indifference or flexibility. You're not saying one option is better than the other; you're saying both are acceptable or equally valid in the context. This is what makes it so practical for expressing open-ended choices.

Let's look at some common scenarios where you'll hear and use ~든지 ~든지:

• Expressing indifference: When you don't have a strong preference between two or more things.
• Offering choices: When you want to give someone options and indicate that any choice is fine.
• Talking about possibilities: When discussing different scenarios and their similar outcomes.
• General statements: To make a broad statement that applies to various options.

Here’s the basic structure for how you attach ~든지 ~든지:

Verbs/Adjectives

Attach ~든지 directly to the verb stem or adjective stem.

Nouns

Attach ~이든지 to nouns (if the noun ends in a consonant) or ~든지 (if the noun ends in a vowel).

Don't overthink the conjugation. It's usually quite straightforward. The key is to understand the meaning of choice and indifference that it conveys.

As you can see from these examples, ~든지 ~든지 is applied directly to the verb or adjective stem, or attached to the noun. The repetition of ~든지 is crucial for conveying the "whether... or..." meaning. You will sometimes hear a single ~든지 used, but for clear choices, the repetition is more common and emphatic.

Understanding ~든지 ~든지 will significantly improve your ability to express flexibility and make conversational Korean sound much more natural. It's a fundamental pattern for discussing options without committing to a single one. Keep practicing with different verbs, adjectives, and nouns, and you'll get the hang of it quickly!

§ What does ~든지 ~든지 mean?

The Korean conjunction '~든지 ~든지' is super useful for expressing options. It means 'whether... or...' or 'either... or...' in English. It shows that there are choices, and any of them are fine. Think of it as giving someone the freedom to pick.

You can use it with nouns, verbs, or adjectives. The meaning stays consistent: you're presenting alternatives.

§ Basic structure

Structure for Nouns

Noun + 든지 + Noun + 든지

When connecting two nouns, you simply attach '든지' after each noun. This indicates that either of those nouns is an acceptable choice or possibility.

Here, the speaker is giving a choice between coffee and tea, implying that either is fine.

Structure for Verbs/Adjectives

Verb/Adjective stem + 든지 + Verb/Adjective stem + 든지

For verbs and adjectives, you take the stem (remove the '~다' ending) and add '든지'. This applies to both action verbs and descriptive verbs (adjectives).

This sentence offers a choice between going and not going, leaving the decision up to the listener.

Here, the size is irrelevant; either option is acceptable.

§ Using ~든지 ~든지 with question words

You can also combine '~든지 ~든지' with question words like 누구 (who), 무엇 (what), 어디 (where), 언제 (when), 어떻게 (how), and 어느 (which). When you do this, it means 'no matter who/what/where/etc.' or 'whoever/whatever/wherever/etc.'

Structure with Question Words

Question word + 든지

In this case, you only need one '든지'. The implication of choice or generality is carried by the question word itself.

• 누구든지: whoever, no matter who
• 무엇이든지 (or 뭐든지): whatever, no matter what
• 어디든지: wherever, no matter where
• 언제든지: whenever, no matter when
• 어떻게든지: however, no matter how
• 어느 + Noun + 든지: whichever Noun, no matter which Noun

§ Important things to remember

Here are a few practical tips to help you use '~든지 ~든지' correctly:

• No preference: The core meaning is that there's no strong preference for one option over another. Any choice is acceptable.
• Can be shortened: Sometimes, especially in informal speech, the second '든지' can be omitted if the meaning is clear from context, but it's safer to include both for clarity when you're starting out.
• Similar but different: Be careful not to confuse '~든지 ~든지' with other 'or' constructions like '~거나 ~거나'. While they both express options, '~든지 ~든지' often implies a broader range of possibilities or a lack of strong preference among the given choices, while '~거나 ~거나' can sometimes imply a more exclusive 'either/or' scenario or a list of specific actions.
• Emphasis: You can add '상관없이' (regardless of) or '모두' (all) after the '든지' clause for extra emphasis on the indifference or inclusiveness.

This is a common usage where you're simply offering a choice of reading material.

This sentence emphasizes that the weather condition won't affect the speaker's plan.

§ Understanding ~든지 ~든지

The Korean conjunction ~든지 ~든지 (CEFR A2) is used to express the idea of "whether... or..." or "either... or...". It indicates that there are multiple options, and the choice between them doesn't matter or is left open. This is a very practical expression to show flexibility or indifference about a choice.

Function

Connects two or more clauses or nouns to indicate a choice between options.

Usage

It can be attached to verbs, adjectives, or nouns. When attached to verbs or adjectives, the ~는/은/ㄹ/을 part is omitted. When attached to nouns, you add ~이든지.

§ Examples of ~든지 ~든지 in Use

Let's look at some examples to see how ~든지 ~든지 is used in Korean sentences.

§ Similar Words and When to Use ~든지 ~든지

There are a few other Korean expressions that can sometimes convey a similar meaning to ~든지 ~든지, but they have subtle differences. Understanding these nuances will help you choose the most appropriate expression for your context.

• ~거나 ~거나: This expression also means "or" or "whether... or...". However, ~거나 ~거나 tends to imply a more direct choice between two specific actions or states. With ~든지 ~든지, there's often a stronger implication of indifference or a broader range of possibilities beyond just the two stated options.

  집에 가거나 도서관에 가거나 해. (Go home or go to the library.)

  In this case, ~거나 ~거나 presents two distinct options. While ~든지 ~든지 could also be used here, ~거나 ~거나 feels a bit more like a directive to choose one of the two.

• ~나 ~나 (or ~이나 ~이나 for nouns): This structure is often used to emphasize that something is true regardless of the choice or condition, similar to "no matter... or...". It carries a stronger sense of neutrality or inevitability compared to ~든지 ~든지's focus on open choice.

  크나 작나 다 좋아요. (Whether big or small, everything is good.)

  Here, the emphasis is that the size doesn't change the fact that everything is good. With ~든지 ~든지, the focus would be more on the freedom to choose either big or small.

When to stick with ~든지 ~든지:

• When you want to express that any option among those presented (and sometimes even others not mentioned) is acceptable or doesn't make a difference to you. It conveys a sense of "it doesn't matter which one."

• When you are giving permission or suggesting that someone has a free choice between options.

• When you want to convey a sense of inclusivity, meaning that all mentioned options are valid.

By understanding these subtle differences, you can use ~든지 ~든지 with confidence and sound more natural in your Korean conversations. Practice using it in various contexts to make it your own!